Judge allows interviews with former Bronco Cox in which he denied sexual contact with victim

Denver Broncos cornerback Perrish Cox, left, appearing with his attorney Harvey Steinberg, pleaded not guilty on May 16 in Douglas County District Court and the trial in his sexual assault case was set for October 18. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

CASTLE ROCK — A Douglas County judge today dealt a blow to the potential defense of former Denver Broncos cornerback Perrish Cox who is charged with two counts of rape.

District Court judge Paul King will allow three of four taped interviews with Cox in which he repeatedly said he did not sexually assault the alleged victim and that he had never had sexual contact with her. Two of the recordings are interviews with police. One was a conversation between the alleged victim and Cox.

DNA has already linked Cox to the preganancy of the alleged victim. The recordings would make it difficult to argue that Cox had consensual sexual contact with her.

Defense attorney Harvey Steinberg said he did not know how the ruling will affect his case. "I have not made a decision," he said during brief recess at a hearing to supress the evidence this afternoon.

A fourth interview recorded after his arrest — in which he again said he had not had sex with the woman — was excluded from Cox's trial because of discovery issues. However, written statements from that recording will be allowed.

The trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 18.

If convicted, he faces two years to life in prison.

Cox faces two felony charges of sexually assaulting a helpless victim unable to appraise her own condition. If convicted, he faces two years to life in prison.

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